Roll of Honor
Incident
Marshal Pierce was shot and killed when he went to a local saloon to arrest the owner. Marshal Pierce, who was unarmed at the time, was called to a saloon in town after the owner refused to close the bar, which was open past the hours allowed by city ordinance. When Marshal Pierce entered, the suspect drew a weapon and fatally shot him in the head. The suspect was arrested and charged with murder, but was acquitted at trial. Marshal Pierce' term as city marshal was about to expire and this incident occurred on his last day in office.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-SD-874C34BE- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
142 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
City Marshal Pierce gave the Mitchell Department of Public Safety 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of South Dakota. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
City Marshal John Tyler Pierce is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In SD, 36 of 62 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 58.1% of this state's fallen. That is 3.9 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Tyler Pierce's cause is highlighted.
How John Tyler Pierce Compares
Offender Outcome
Acquitted at trial
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Tyler Pierce is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Tyler Pierce was killed by shotgun.